Wiiiii!

This is great. A perfect use of technology to benefit the wiser segment of the population.

From the Atlantic...

Many local newspapers in the past year have shown how nursing homes are using Nintendo Wii consoles to entertain their residents. I decided to find out why nursing homes are so interested in video games, and the Wii in particular.



• Multiplayer games such as Wii Tennis provide a great opportunity to meet new people and bond over some friendly competition.
• For seniors whose glory days on the tennis court are far behind them, even simulated sports can bring back fond memories. And what better way to get to the grandkids to visit than by offering video games?
• 

The Wii also holds a surprising number of health benefits, too. The exertion required by Wii Sports is relatively light, but any exercise is crucial for seniors stuck in a sedentary lifestyle.
  
• The limited use of buttons on the Wiimote is ideal for the arthritic.
• Physical therapists have developed "Wiihabilitiaton" regimens to motivate patients recovering from strokes, broken bones, or other injuries affecting balance, coordination, or circulation.
  
• And video games can be preventative as well recuperative: scientists are discovering that the increased brain stimulation can help stave off dementia or Alzheimer's. One recent study by the University of Illinois observed that participants in their 60s and 70s improved their cognitive ability after playing the game Rise of Nations, which emphasizes resource management and planning.